The Wired Word for the Week of December 11, 2016
In the News
How would you like it if the government kept track of how well you treated your parents, how often you claimed a discount you didn't qualify for, how frequently you cheated on exams in school, how quick you were to volunteer for projects for the common good, how well you obeyed speed limits when driving, how willing you were to pass along unreliable information online. and used all of this, along with your financial credit score to determine what societal benefits you received.
And on top of that, someone in government got to decide what was meant by "the common good" and "unreliable information" -- and prohibited private citizens and organizations from providing "societal benefits."
Actually, according to a recent report in The Wall Street Journal, China, under the auspices of the Chinese Communist Party, is in the beginning stages of rolling out such a system. More than 36 local governments across that nation have started compiling digital records of individual citizens' financial behavior, compliance with legal and moral rules of daily life and their online practices -- all of which will eventually be used to generate a "personal credit information system."
The plan is for the system to be fully operational nationwide by 2020.
A person's score from that system will determine whether that person has access to lower insurance premiums, can book a luxury hotel room, is able to travel abroad, can be admitted to certain schools and receive scholarships, has access to the better forms of public transport, is eligible for government jobs, has Internet access, receives favorable loan rates and has access to social services.
The Journal reports that citizens in jobs deemed sensitive, such as lawyers, accountants, teachers, journalists, will be subject to enhanced scrutiny,
One's score in this system can be knocked down by poor spending habits and criminal behavior certainly, but also for jaywalking, cutting in line, spurning neighbors in need, violating family-planning rules, throwing garbage out of the window, not visiting one's parents frequently enough and other non-criminal infractions.
According to a slogan in the data-collection planning documents, the aim of the system is to "allow the trustworthy to roam everywhere under heaven while making it hard for the discredited to take a single step."
Although such "big brother" surveillance systems have been conceived of at least since 1949 when George Orwell published his book 1984, it has taken advances in information technology -- especially the digital form of it -- to make such systems feasible. (TWW editorial team member David Hall commented that he has always suspected that in Revelation, John's "number of the beast" was not 666 but, 101010, the binary code used by computers for encoding data.) And while China's government still has some technological and bureaucratic obstacles to overcome to monitor its 1.4 billion people, modern information gathering, sorting and retrieval methods now make it achievable, though whether it can be fully implemented by 2020 is not clear.
Another step in the system is projected to gather data about the behavior of businesses and publish the results to consumers.
Could a similar system become a reality in the United States? A Fortunearticle, sparked by The Wall Street Journal report, added, "Some U.S. startups had ideas similar in nature to what the Chinese state has in mind, though wildly different in scope and scale: to assess people's eligibility for loans by their Facebook profiles or phone records."
So far at least, such attempts have not succeeded, some of them thwarted by Facebook itself, but the attempts come as a reminder that by some estimates, Facebook already has the largest data collection of personal information in the world and that the technology exists for systems such as the one being launched in China.
More on this story can be found at these links:
China's New Way of Controlling Society Will Grade You on Behavior. FortuneChina's New Tool for Social Control: A Credit Rating for Everything. Wall Street Journal(subscription needed to access article)
Why Facebook Profiles are Replacing Credit Scores. Fortune
Why Facebook Profiles are Replacing Credit Scores. Fortune
Applying the News Story
The subscriber who pointed us to this news story said that the Chinese government giving a rating to everyone for being moral (in a way defined by the government) brought to mind "parallels to the Bible, but with a twist." The subscriber asked, "In God's system, do we get any bonus points for joyfully doing the right thing versus doing it because God might punish us if we don't?"
Taking on a real Santa Claus-like role, Chinese government operatives will determine who has been "naughty or nice" and provide presents or lumps of coal as they see fit.
This news helps us consider what it means to live with God knowing all about us, think about the matter of divine judgment and ponder the subscriber's question.
The Big Questions
1. Does God have an information gathering "system" from which we receive a "score" that determines our ultimate destiny? On what do you base your answer? How does Jesus' death and resurrection come into this?
2. Regardless of whether you answered "yes" or "no" to question 1, does the possibility of such a divine "system" affect how you behave? Why or why not? Do you do certain things and avoid others out of fear of potentially harming your "standing" with God?
3. Do you believe God knows all about you, even down to the darkest thoughts in your mind and the best aspirations of your heart? If yes, how does that affect how you live from day to day?
4. What is the Bible's primary view of God? Scorekeeper? Judge? Father of mercy? Savior? Source of love? Other?
5. What is your response to the subscriber's question: "In God's system, do we get any bonus points for joyfully doing the right thing versus doing it because God might punish us if we don't?"
Confronting the News With Scripture and HopeHere are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:
1 Samuel 16:7But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." (For context, read 16:1-13.)
To anoint the next king of Israel, God sent the prophet Samuel to the household of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who had eight sons. When Samuel saw the eldest, Eliab, who was impressive in appearance, Samuel assumed he was the one God had chosen. But God told Samuel not to be misled by Eliab's appearance or stature, "for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." Eventually, after Samuel had seen seven of the sons and heard no confirmation from God on any of them, the youngest son, David, was brought in. It was he whom the Lord had selected.
The verse above reminds us that God sees not only our potential, but also the intent of our heart. Thus, even when we think no one is watching, God is. Nothing is hidden from him.
Questions: Why does the fact that nothing we do is hidden from God not deter some people, even some Christians, from wrongdoing? What does it mean to you that God sees your potential?
Psalm 139:7-8, 11-12
Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. … If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night," even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you. (For context, read 139:1-18.)
Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. … If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night," even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you. (For context, read 139:1-18.)
These verses from Psalm 139 voice a central biblical theme about God's presence. In fact, in some settings, the issue is not that we cannot find God, but that God refuses to leave us alone. He not only knows what we have done but won't let us avoid thinking about it.
Questions: What in your experience of God is like that of this psalmist? When have you been acutely aware of God's presence? When have you felt unable to find God? What, if anything, helped?
Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works, as recorded in the books. (For context, read 20:11-15.)
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works, as recorded in the books. (For context, read 20:11-15.)
One of the topics Revelation addresses is the matter of final judgment. Revelation 20:11-15 describes a vision John of Patmos had, in which he sees a judgment scene. John views a moment when all people, "great and small," important and insignificant, stand before the throne of God and are judged according to their lives. Some books are opened. Some of them are the books of the deeds of the people being judged. Another book is called the book of life, containing the names of those who are citizens of the kingdom of God. Then anyone whose name was not found in the book of life was thrown into a lake of fire.
The "books" imagery sounds like an information database wherein all of one's deeds, both good and bad, are recorded.
That scene, of course, is a symbolic way of describing the final judgment, something to be taken seriously. Some Christians have a hard time including the idea of judgment in their understanding of Christianity, concentrating instead on the love of God. But we cannot deny that divine judgment is a theme that occurs throughout scripture. In fact, although the imagery surrounding this final judgment is symbolic, judgment itself has a ring of truth about it.
The fact is, the Christian faith itself doesn't make much sense if there were no judgment. If God wants a relationship with each of us, it must also be possible for us to reject it. And if rejected, there must be some different consequence than if the relationship were embraced. The consequence the Bible sees is ultimate separation from God.
If there were no judgment, we would live in a world where crime pays, sin has no meaning and right is whatever you want it to be. The only way judgment could be done away with would be for God to become indifferent to what happens.
The opening of the books is a symbolic way of saying that human freedom and human responsibility matter, that what we do matters and matters in the eternal sense. We will have to answer for the kind of people we are.
Speaking of books being opened, TWW editorial team member Mary Sells comments, "If God does have a scorecard, having the Bible makes life an open-book test. We have all the answers he wants us to know to pass any such test."
Questions: Do you think God's judgment will be convincing to those being judged? Why or why not? If all your deeds were recorded in a book, to what section of the library would it belong? If Christ edited the book of your life, how would it change?
1 Samuel 13:13-14
Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which he commanded you. The LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever, but now your kingdom will not continue ... (For context, read 13:5-15.)
John 8:10-11Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, sir." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again." (For context, read 7:53--8:11.)
Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which he commanded you. The LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever, but now your kingdom will not continue ... (For context, read 13:5-15.)
John 8:10-11Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, sir." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again." (For context, read 7:53--8:11.)
We are offering these two passages side by side because they provide contrasting examples of divine judgment.
In the 1 Samuel verses, King Saul's "score" with God (if indeed God keeps score) was in the negative range because he had "not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which he commanded you" (specifically, Saul offered an unauthorized burnt offering to God; see vv. 8-12). God's judgment: "... your kingdom will not continue."
In the John 8 reference, the woman caught in adultery also had a negative "score" (if indeed God keeps score); she had broken one of the "Big Ten" commandments. But Jesus did not condemn her.
Questions: What do these two incidents together tell you about the notion of God as "scorekeeper"? What do they tell you about divine judgment? What do they tell you about divine mercy?
1 John 4:16-18
… God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. (For context, read 4:7-21.)
… God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. (For context, read 4:7-21.)
The good news of the gospel is that no matter whether we deserve light or harsh judgment, God sent his Son to tell us about forgiveness so that we have nothing to fear in the final judgment, no matter what actual form that takes. It's significant that this passage talks about love and judgment together, for in a very real sense, it is love that judges us.
But note also, that John writes that when "love has been perfected among us ... we may have boldness on the day of judgment" (italics added).
Questions: How is God's love, which enables boldness on the day of judgment, expressed by Jesus? Among humans? How is God's love suppressed by fear?
For Further Discussion
1. If a system such as the one being instituted in China were implemented here in the United States, how do each of us think it would be received? Why? How would your answer change if it were being implemented under a president you really liked … or under a president you detested? Why?
2. Respond to this, from TWW team member Stan Purdum: "God's judgment makes sense to me in part because it is the only judgment that can always be fair. Any human judge, no matter how hard he or she tries, cannot always put aside all bias. And when we judge ourselves, we cannot either. Some people who live selfish and self-centered lives may be inclined to measure themselves too lightly: 'Well, I'm no worse than the next guy.' Or 'I'm just fine.' Others, who may be very generous and giving may measure themselves too harshly, and have a low opinion of themselves: 'I'm only worthy of contempt.'"
3. Comment on this, heard in a sermon: "Despite the fact that 80 percent of the Ten Commandments are prohibitions, their fundamental purpose is not to limit life but to make living the good life, a life in tune with the rhythms of the universe, possible. They are not the ad hoc proscriptions of a cosmic killjoy, but the wise words of a loving parent on how to get the most out of the life we have been given."
Responding to the News
If your image of God is largely that of a divine scorekeeper or a cosmic killjoy, this is a good time to consider what has formed that image in your mind and what might help you to receive and embrace God's mercy and love.
Prayer
Lord, even as we try to follow Jesus, we sometimes commit sins of commission and/or omission. Thank you because when we yield ourselves to you and receive Christ, we can rely upon your mercy. In Jesus' name. Amen
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